According to J.D. Power, there are overall low employer satisfaction rates (61%) with health plans. Service outranks cost & benefits as satisfaction driver. Employee plan servicing ranked #1, with account servicing and product offering/design ranking 2nd & 3rd. Go to http://bit.ly/blTq3t for the press release re: major study findings.
The LA Times reports that health plans are ramping up customer service to compete post-health reform. Guess the JD Power employer survey was right! http://bit.ly/9N82ix
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Tuesday, June 29, 2010
MBGH Participating in TN's All Claims Database Development
MBGH is a member of the Tennessee Health Information Committee which oversees the development of TN's all claims database in terms of information that is collected and information that is publicly reported.
Click here to read a report which summarizes why states are creating these all claims databases. Examples of how information from these databases can be used include:
Click here to read a report which summarizes why states are creating these all claims databases. Examples of how information from these databases can be used include:
- Employers can begin to understand the variation in cost and utilization by geographic area within a state;
- The value equation (cost & quality) of new health care services can be assessed;
- The design and implementation of health reforms can be informed by data and data can be tracked to determine impact;
- Compare prevalence of disease across populations;
- Determine payer competitiveness;
- Report on the cost and quality of individual providers.
PWC Report Forecasts 2011 Employer Health Benefit Trends
PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute surveyed 700 U.S.-based companies, small through jumbo sized, to gauge their perspectives on health care costs and benefits program priorities for 2011. Interviews were conducted in the first quarter of 2010. Click here for a copy of the report.
Major findings include:
Major findings include:
- Medical costs are projected to increase 9% in 2011.
- More employers will move away from co-payments & toward co-insurance at the point of care.
- Hospitals, getting less from Medicare, will cost-shift to employers/commercial to make it up.
- Providers will merge and consolidate, creating greater leverage in negotiations with health plans.
- Employers plan to add more worksite wellness & health promotion programs.
MBGH Worksite Wellness Project with Health Department Gets National Recognition
Click here to see the article on this project in the Memphis Business Journal.
The Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) received one of seven national Community Health Partnerships (CHP) Population Health Seed Grants. The $12,911 grant was awarded by the National Business Coalition on Health through the Community Coalitions Health Institute (CCHI).
The grant will fund a joint program between the Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) and the Memphis Shelby County Health Department (MSCHD) to study the effectiveness of the Move More, Eat Better…It All Works Together Fitness Challenge in the workplace.
The MSCHD has been offering the Move More, Eat Better…It All Works Together Fitness Challenge through churches and community centers. The program is funded by the State of Tennessee Department of Health. Despite the fact that the program is free to employers, The MSCHD has had a difficult time getting employers to offer it at worksites.
Memphis Business Group on Health is a coalition of member employers sharing solutions and providing tools to manage the cost and quality of health benefits. As part of the grant, MBGH has secured participation of four member employers, including the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority and Merck. The employers will enroll approximately 120 employees in the challenge, which lasts six weeks.
Health department staff will record the employee’s blood pressure, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) at the beginning of the challenge and compare it to the employee’s final numbers six weeks later. During that period, MSCHD staff will provide weekly educational programs to employees on topics such as nutrition and exercise.
Incentives for participants include pedometers, waist circumference tape measure, hand sanitizer, jar grips, pens, notepads. The grand prize, a George Foreman grill, is awarded to the participant making the most significant progress toward better health.
The Memphis Business Group on Health will track the initiative from an employer’s perspective, measuring employee engagement, realized benefits, and employer satisfaction. As part of the grant, MBGH will recommend how the program may be modified to make it more successful in the workplace in the future. Results will be published in a white paper and made available to employers and other communities.
“In Memphis, employers have historically perceived the Health Department as an organization that helps the uninsured and the under-insured and not employers,” said Cristie Upshaw Travis, Chief Executive Officer of The Memphis Business Group on Health. “The department is an underutilized resource that we can tap to help deliver better value to our member organizations. For example, we worked with the MSCHD to help our employers implement H1N1 Flu shot programs.”
The Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) received one of seven national Community Health Partnerships (CHP) Population Health Seed Grants. The $12,911 grant was awarded by the National Business Coalition on Health through the Community Coalitions Health Institute (CCHI).
The grant will fund a joint program between the Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) and the Memphis Shelby County Health Department (MSCHD) to study the effectiveness of the Move More, Eat Better…It All Works Together Fitness Challenge in the workplace.
The MSCHD has been offering the Move More, Eat Better…It All Works Together Fitness Challenge through churches and community centers. The program is funded by the State of Tennessee Department of Health. Despite the fact that the program is free to employers, The MSCHD has had a difficult time getting employers to offer it at worksites.
Memphis Business Group on Health is a coalition of member employers sharing solutions and providing tools to manage the cost and quality of health benefits. As part of the grant, MBGH has secured participation of four member employers, including the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority and Merck. The employers will enroll approximately 120 employees in the challenge, which lasts six weeks.
Health department staff will record the employee’s blood pressure, weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) at the beginning of the challenge and compare it to the employee’s final numbers six weeks later. During that period, MSCHD staff will provide weekly educational programs to employees on topics such as nutrition and exercise.
Incentives for participants include pedometers, waist circumference tape measure, hand sanitizer, jar grips, pens, notepads. The grand prize, a George Foreman grill, is awarded to the participant making the most significant progress toward better health.
The Memphis Business Group on Health will track the initiative from an employer’s perspective, measuring employee engagement, realized benefits, and employer satisfaction. As part of the grant, MBGH will recommend how the program may be modified to make it more successful in the workplace in the future. Results will be published in a white paper and made available to employers and other communities.
“In Memphis, employers have historically perceived the Health Department as an organization that helps the uninsured and the under-insured and not employers,” said Cristie Upshaw Travis, Chief Executive Officer of The Memphis Business Group on Health. “The department is an underutilized resource that we can tap to help deliver better value to our member organizations. For example, we worked with the MSCHD to help our employers implement H1N1 Flu shot programs.”
Health Reform Resources Added in June
Quite a bit of activity in June related to health reform. You can click the following links to access the latest information. Don't forget to click here to go to MBGH's Health Reform Resource Center for the 30+ postings on health reform information important for employers.
Click here to read Health Reform GPS's summary of Health Insurance Reforms & Grandfathered Plans (6/26/10)
Click here to read the HHS press release on regulations for grandfathered plans (6/14/10).
Click here to read the HHS Q&A on the regulations for grandfathered plans (6/14/10)
Click here to read National Business Coalition on Health's Action Alert on the release of the official application & application instructions for the early retiree reninsurance program (6/29/10)
Click here to read Milliman's assessment of the impact of health reform on Large Employers (6/11/10)
Click here to read FAQ's about health reform from Buck Consultants (6/21/10)
Click here to read Health Reform GPS's summary of Health Insurance Reforms & Grandfathered Plans (6/26/10)
Click here to read the HHS press release on regulations for grandfathered plans (6/14/10).
Click here to read the HHS Q&A on the regulations for grandfathered plans (6/14/10)
Click here to read National Business Coalition on Health's Action Alert on the release of the official application & application instructions for the early retiree reninsurance program (6/29/10)
Click here to read Milliman's assessment of the impact of health reform on Large Employers (6/11/10)
Click here to read FAQ's about health reform from Buck Consultants (6/21/10)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Memphis Medical News Reports on MBGH Leapfrog Rewards
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Why Do Employees Not Take Their Meds?
Interestingly, cost is the not the only reason. Seems convenience is too. This article suggests physician offices should dispense prescription drugs. Evidence also shows that worksite clinics that dispense drugs save employees and employers dollars and increase adherence.
Click here to read the blog post on this issue.
Click here to read the blog post on this issue.
Memphis Hospitals Continue to be Challenged by Infections
Click here to read the latest article on hospital infection rates in Memphis.
MBGH has been working through The Leapfrog Group and other ways to push hospitals to reduce hospital infections, which cost both dollars and lives.
Click here to see Leapfrog Hospital Survey results for Memphis hospitals which include infectionr rates in ICUs. Share this important information with your employees so they can select hospitals that provide a higher level of quality, safe care.
MBGH has been working through The Leapfrog Group and other ways to push hospitals to reduce hospital infections, which cost both dollars and lives.
Click here to see Leapfrog Hospital Survey results for Memphis hospitals which include infectionr rates in ICUs. Share this important information with your employees so they can select hospitals that provide a higher level of quality, safe care.
Work-Site Clinics Beginning to Show Up in Memphis
MBGH suggests that as work-site clinics expand their focus from helping employees with acute episodes (such as sinus infections, colds, etc) to providing on-going care for those with chronic conditions, the value of work-site clinics will increase for employers.
Click here to read the article describing how work-site clinics, though slow to catch on in Memphis, are beginning to pop up over town.
Click here to read the article describing how work-site clinics, though slow to catch on in Memphis, are beginning to pop up over town.
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